15 Pre-seed startups that just secured funding (Q1 2025)

Raising a pre-seed round is a massive milestone. At this stage, investors are betting on founders, market opportunity, and execution potential. Not just revenue numbers.

Here’s a list of 15 early-stage startups who recently closed their pre-seed funding round in January and February of 2025. At this stage, they’re securing capital to build, scale, and validate their vision. From AI automation to clean energy and fintech, these companies are tackling some of the biggest challenges in their industries.

Here’s a look at the startups that just raised, what they’re building, and who’s backing them.

1. Everstar: $4M for AI-powered nuclear plant management

Everstar is developing an AI-driven system to optimize the operation and management of nuclear power plants, improving safety, efficiency, and overall plant performance.

• Industry: Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Industrial Tech
• Location: New York, NY
• Lead Investor: Third Prime
• Other Investors: Excel Services, Generational Partners, Page One Ventures, Pelican Energy Partners, Virta Ventures
• Website: everstar.ai

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2. Limited: $3M to build a global self-custodial finance platform

Limited is creating a financial ecosystem that allows users to spend, save, invest, and transact globally without relying on traditional banks.

• Industry: FinTech
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Lead Investor: Third Prime
• Other Investors: Arche Capital, The House Fund
• Website: limitedapp.com

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3. Sotira: $2M to modernize B2B logistics

Sotira is reinventing the supply chain by optimizing logistics for suppliers and buyers, helping businesses cut costs and improve efficiency.

• Industry: B2B, E-Commerce, FinTech, Logistics, SaaS
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Lead Investors: K5 Global, Night Capital, Ritual Capital, Unusual Ventures
• Website: sotira.co

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4. Future AGI: $1.6M to accelerate AI application development

Future AGI provides a platform that helps businesses build, train, and deploy AI models faster and with greater accuracy.

• Industry: Artificial Intelligence, IT, Software
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Lead Investors: Powerhouse Ventures, Snow Leopard Technology Ventures
• Other Investors: AngelList Quant Fund, Saka Ventures, Swadharma Source Ventures
• Website: futureagi.com

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5. Elio: $2M to coordinate and accelerate climate action

Elio is building a communication and coordination platform designed to streamline sustainability projects and climate initiatives.

• Industry: Big Data, Sustainability, Software
• Location: Dover, DE
• Lead Investor: Ananda Impact Ventures
• Other Investors: Andreas Treichl, Cerulean Ventures, N&V Capital, Overview, RHEINEST, Stefan Oschmann, We\R
• Website: elio.earth

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6. Pinkfish: $7.6M to revolutionize enterprise AI automation

Pinkfish is making enterprise automation more accessible by allowing businesses to create workflows using natural language.

• Industry: Artificial Intelligence, IT, Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Lead Investor: Norwest Venture Partners
• Other Investors: Storm Ventures
• Website: pinkfish.ai

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7. Addis Energy: $4.25M to transform clean ammonia production

Addis Energy is developing innovative methods to produce clean ammonia, aiming to revolutionize energy and fuel sustainability.

• Industry: Chemical, Manufacturing, Clean Energy
• Location: Somerville, MA
• Lead Investors: Engine Ventures, Pillar VC, Voyager Ventures
• Website: addisenergy.com

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8. Systole Health: $2M to empower women’s heart health

Systole Health provides digital tools and solutions to help women take control of their heart health and prevent cardiovascular disease.

• Industry: Health Care, Medical
• Location: Allston, MA
• Lead Investor: Benchstrength
• Other Investors: J Ventures, January Ventures, Tom X Lee
• Website: systolehealth.com

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9. Gaia Dynamics: $1.5M to simplify global trade compliance

Gaia Dynamics is developing tools that help customs brokers, consultants, and brands navigate international trade with ease.

• Industry: Logistics, TradeTech
• Location: Palo Alto, CA
• Lead Investors: AI Fund, Zenda
• Website: gaiadynamics.ai

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10. Human: $7.3M for decentralized identity and fintech

Human is creating a blockchain-based identity management platform focused on financial independence and security.

• Industry: Blockchain, Consumer, FinTech
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Investors: Hummingbird Ventures, Soma Capital, Val Vavilov, Pioneer Fund
• Website: human.org

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11. Whetstone Research: $1.3M to advance on-chain markets

Whetstone Research is building protocols that facilitate decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3 market infrastructure.

• Industry: Blockchain, DeFi, Web3
• Location: New York, NY
• Investors: Variant, Uniswap Labs, Nascent, Figment Capital
• Website: whetstone.cc

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12. Glue: $2M to automate hardware testing

Glue is developing a software framework that automates hardware testing for industrial automation and AI-driven systems.

• Industry: Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Automation, Software
• Location: Seattle, WA
• Investors: Fortive, AIStudio Fund, PSL Ventures
• Website: gluestudio.com

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13. Incept AI: $3M to bring AI voice tech to drive-thrus

Incept AI is integrating AI-powered voice recognition into real-world applications, starting with phone orders and restaurant drive-thrus.

• Industry: Artificial Intelligence, Software
• Location: New York, NY
• Investors: Rally Ventures, 10vc
• Website: incept.ai

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14. Qumis: $2.2M to streamline insurance workflows with AI

Qumis is an AI-driven platform designed to optimize insurance knowledge management and decision-making.

• Industry: Enterprise Software, InsurTech
• Location: Chicago, IL
• Investors: Armory Square Ventures, BrokerTech Ventures, MTech Capital, Alumni Ventures
• Website: qumis.ai

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15. Taxflow: $750K to bring AI to tax and accounting firms

Taxflow is developing AI-powered agents designed to streamline tax preparation and accounting for U.S. firms, automating complex financial workflows.

• Industry: Accounting, Artificial Intelligence, Tax Preparation, Web Development
• Location: San Francisco, CA
• Investors: BFF, Brian Requarth, Brian York, Platanus
• Website: jointaxflow.ai

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More early-stage funding is flowing, but competition remains fierce

Pre-seed startups are still securing funding, but investors are more selective than ever. The startups that raised this month stood out with clear market opportunities, strong teams, and scalable visions.

If you’re gearing up for a raise, the right investor connections can make all the difference. Match with yours on Capwave.AI.